The outbreak of war found Newfoundland and Labrador without any effective
defences. There were virtually no troops, no guns, no fortifications, and
the government did not have the funds to provide them. Britain was obviously
unable to provide much help. After a period of uncertainty, it became clear
that the defence of Newfoundland and Labrador would have to be a North American
responsibility, with Canada taking the lead.

RCAF planes began patrolling the waters around the Island, using the seaplane
base at Botwood. By June 1940, Canadian troops were garrisoned at Gander airport
located on the island portion of Newfoundland, which before long was placed under
Canadian control. So was Botwood, and the small, newly-formed Newfoundland Defence
Force. The Canadians built another air base at Torbay, a short distance north of St.
John's, starting in 1941, and the next year built a naval repair base at St. John's.

The Canadian government was also instrumental in constructing a new airfield at Goose
Bay in Labrador.

The Canadians were not the only invaders. Under the Leased Bases Agreement between
Britain and the United States, signed in March 1941, American personnel began to
arrive in large numbers at Stephenville, Argentia and St. John's.

Early construction of Fort Pepperrell army base in St. John's, 1941Courtesy of the Maritime History Archive (John Cardoulis Fonds Collection 306, Photo
PF 306.181), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland. (64 kb)

American detachments were also stationed at Gander and Goose Bay. At the height of the military occupation
in 1943, there were approximately 6,000 Canadian and 10,000 American personnel in
Newfoundland and Labrador.

American military tanks on parade during American-Canadian Day, 1942Courtesy of the Maritime History Archive (John Cardoulis Fonds Collection 306, Photo
PF 306.202), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland. (51 kb)

There was some unease in Ottawa about both the agreement and the large American presence
in Newfoundland. Canada now recognized that it had important and permanent interests in
Newfoundland, which had to be protected. This was a major reason for the establishment
of a Canadian High Commission in St. John's in July 1941.

The war brought full employment and prosperity to Newfoundland. It was once again
financially self-supporting, and as a result the Commission of Government would
disappear when the war was over. Many people assumed that Newfoundland would revert
to the independent status it held prior to 1934. However, by the end of the war in 1945,
senior Canadian officials had decided that, if at all possible, Newfoundland should be
brought into confederation. Since 1940 both the Island and Labrador had effectively
been part of an integrated defence scheme, and the governments of both countries had
worked well together. Canada controlled vital strategic installations, and did not want
to see the country drift into the American sphere of influence. Newfoundland had become
important to Canada in a way it had never been in the past. Perhaps it should become a
Canadian province.